Indian Women's Hockey Team Achieves Historic World Cup Finish

In a remarkable display of skill and resilience, the Indian women's hockey team has concluded its campaign at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in Belgium and the Netherlands with a commendable performance. The team, making its ninth appearance at the prestigious event, secured a historic victory against Germany in the 5th-6th place classification match, finishing the tournament on a high note. This achievement marks India's best performance in the women's World Cup since they finished fourth at the inaugural event in 1974.

The Indian side faced a tough competition throughout the tournament, holding higher-ranked teams including silver medallists China, England, and Australia to draws. They also celebrated their most dominant victory with a 6-1 win against South Africa. Their only setback came against the defending champions, the Netherlands, where they lost 0-2.

Following a series of hard-fought draws, India ended the second stage in third place, narrowly missing a spot in the semi-finals. Germany, on the other hand, had a competitive campaign of their own, defeating Scotland and the USA, but faced a defeat against Belgium, which positioned them for the classification match.

Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “The girls have already made history by securing the best ranking in a World Cup since 1974, but we want more.” He acknowledged the team’s efforts and resilience, stating that the girls are aware they have taken significant steps forward even though they feel they could have achieved more.

In the upcoming match against Germany, the focus will be on converting opportunities into goals, particularly in the attacking third. The forwards will play a crucial role, with the hope of translating chances into scoring opportunities, particularly through penalty corners that may benefit prominent players like Deepika and Navneet Kaur.

India’s goalkeeper duo, Savita and Bichu Devi Kharibam, have received praise for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament, providing a solid defence that has been key to the team’s success. Captain Salima Tete has further strengthened their defence with her skillful blocks during penalty corners.

As they prepare to conclude their historic campaign, the Indian women's hockey team looks forward to setting a new benchmark in the sport. Marijne concluded, “It’s going to be a good match against Germany to show that we can do better than we did against Australia. We are looking forward to it.”

In a fitting end to a memorable World Cup, the team's triumph against Germany is set to inspire future generations and enhance the profile of women’s hockey in India.